safariLIVE Time Change: Search and ID

Searching through the darkness of the African night for creatures – both great and small – is no easy task.

Each animal species has specific characteristics/adaptations that have been developed over millions of years of evolution to ensure their day-to-day survival. This makes the prospect of searching for the ultimate stealth predator or the most camouflaged prey a next to impossible challenge. Well, that was until human innovation and technology caught up with evolution.

The FLIR T1K thermal camera and thermal drone camera are changing the game when it comes to finding animals in the dark. Almost silent and with thermal vision that can be likened to that of the sharpest predatory bird’s eyes, the drone soars through the darkness. Glowing white pin pricks indicate the presence of an animal. The chase is now on as our guides search through the thickets equipped with not only thermal vision but infrared night vision as well. These advances in technology also mean that we are able to do this without disturbing the natural behaviour of the animal in any way.

Join the safariLIVE crew as we adventure into the darkness to bring you the most secretive of night time creatures. From civets and honey badgers, to leopards, servals and maybe even that ever elusive aardvark! civets, honey badgers, leopards, servals and maybe even that ever elusive aardvark!

As of Monday 2 July, all of this new technology will be brought to bear during our sunrise safaris. This does mean a small adjustment to our live broadcast times. It’s no secret that infrared and thermal alike function best in the darkness and the night is always darkest just before the sun rises. This means the safariLIVE crew will be going out an hour earlier.